Considering it's an upgraded version of its Star sibling the Roadliner, the $1600 dollar jump in price for the Stratoliner may seem a lttle steep, yet it's right in line with its competitors such as the Victory Kingpin Deluxe.

Palm Trees, cacti, and a Stratoliner.

Not quite big enough to accommodate a two-up weekend excursion, the saddlebags would have to be augmented to tap the Strato's full touring potential.

A passing motorist just asked, 'So what in the heck's a moto-journo?'

The Stratoliner shares the Roadliner's comfy seat.

The windshield was the perfect height for our editor, allowing him to crouch down for shelter or sit tall for a clearer view forward..

The Stratoliner looks the part of a $15,000 cruiser and Yamaha can expect to rake in more than just the sticker price whenever they sell one, thanks to an ample aftermarket catalog of components that captures the desire of the cruiser customer to personalize their ride.

the inclusion of an exhaust powervalve to insure a flat torque curve is the first time the component has been fitted to a cruiser.

Hopefully you like the look of the saddlebags, because when you take them off it ain't pretty.

The stylish Strato is claimed to weigh in at 50 lbs less than its burly metric rivals.

The Stratoliner's windshield and spacious floorboards, which Duke is just skimming over the asphalt here, will appease the touring crowd.

To back up its outward appearance, the Stratoliner's 113 cubic-inch V-Twin gives it more than enough oomph to run with its metric competitors, the Vulcan 2000 and VTX 1800.